Tom Adams enters his third season on the Baylor staff and his second coaching the Bears' defensive line. Adams, who spent six seasons at Kentucky before returning to the Lone Star state with Guy Morriss, tutored BU's defensive tackles in 2003.

In 2004, Adams coached BU defensive end Khari Long, who was chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2005 National Football League Draft, and Montez Murphy, an honorable mention Associated Press All-Big 12 defensive end.

His first year at Baylor saw the Bears record 29 sacks, their highest one-year total since 1994, and the sixth-best mark in school history. BU's 2003 sack total also ranked sixth among all Big 12 programs.

Adams' final season at Kentucky produced All-Southeastern Conference tackle Dewayne Robertson, who was taken as the fourth overall selection in the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Robertson was the first UK defender chosen in the NFL Draft's first round in some 25 years.

With injuries striking UK's defensive tackles in 2001, Adams brought out the best in senior Derrick Johnson. Seldom-used prior to the 2001 campaign, Johnson proved to be a reliable performer and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free-agent.

Handling the entire defensive line prior to the 2000 season, Adams' 1999 D-line increased its production across the board over the 1998 campaign. The Wildcat lineman totaled 183 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback sacks. The Kentucky line helped limit opponents to 148.5 rushing yards per game, the best mark for a UK defense since 1987. End Dennis Johnson led the way with 39 tackles and five sacks and was chosen second-team All-SEC.

The play of Adams' 1998 defensive line helped the Wildcats total 88 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, most for a UK team in statistics available since 1985. UK's 29 quarterback sacks ranked third in the Southeastern Conference. Dennis Johnson was named second-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News.

He coached Kentucky's defensive ends in 1997. Under Adams' guidance, Bamidele Ali ranked third in the SEC in quarterback sacks with seven, even though Ali was in his first season as a defensive lineman. Adams' ends notched 17 of UK's 21 sacks.

Adams went to Kentucky from Southern Methodist University. While at SMU, Adams coached the defensive line for three years, and the defensive tackles one year, including 1993 All-Southwest Conference performers Chad Patton and Adam Voyles.

From 1985-92, Adams guided the defensive line at Sam Houston State. In his final season at SHSU, Adams' defensive line helped set a single-season school record with 47 quarterback sacks. In 1991, the Bearkats won the Southland Conference title and made the NCAA I-AA playoffs. He coached seven all-conference players and one All-American at SHSU.

The El Paso, Texas, native broke into the coaching ranks on a full-time basis at Wharton County (Texas) Junior College, where he led the offensive and defensive lines from 1982-1984.

Adams played his college football at Rice, where he was twice (1979 and 1980) named the team's Most Valuable Defensive Lineman and served as a team captain during his senior season. He spent the 1981 campaign as a student assistant coach with the Owls' defensive line and completed his bachelor's degree, with a double major in psychology and physical education, in 1982.

Adams and his wife, Rita, have two daughters, Brandi and Beth, a son, Branch, and two grandchildren, Olivia and Cali.